Dinner with Edward: A Story of an Unexpected Friendship

Dinner with Edward

I brought the culinary sophistication of a Krystal’s Chili Cheese Pup to my reading of Isabel Vincent’s memoir, Dinner with Edward. With each chapter starting with a menu of fine cuisine, French no less, I was more than a bit intimidated. Fortunately, a hatred of asparagus and disdain for brie do not spoil Ms. Vincent’s best course, the story of how a friendship is made.

Like most meals, there are parts of Ms. Vincent’s offering that seem somehow familiar. Tuesdays with Morrie and Julie & Julia were recognizable flavors but did not overwhelm or distract from Edward’s entrance into her life, or the significance that arises from their time together. They both seem to be trying to create from scratch, with only show more the memory of a distant dish as guide, something to replace what has been lost in their lives. But both are willing to set their dish aside to help the other.

One note I found especially fascinating was the very subtle aroma of romance between them. The distance between there births, along with their admiration and mutual respect of one another, prevent any passion to be stired. Yet, as one dreams of the future while the other looks at the past, they find an opportunity in one another to an outlet for to give and experience love.

In other news, this is another book I’m grateful to have received from Algonquin Books and given the pleasure of previewing. Dinner with Edward will be released on May 24th. Thanks @AlgonquinBooks! show less

I have to say first that my latest ARC to arrive from Library Thing's Early Reviewers program, Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent, exceeded my expectations in some ways. In others, it pole-vaulted over them. I give it my highest praise for a book that celebrates food, friendship and family: my New Yorker Father, the chef, would have loved this story.

About that: Dinner with Edward is not a novel but a memoir, so the female main character is also the author. I didn't realize this fact until after I finished the story and did a little research. Until that point a part of me wondered if it was even plausible that a middle-aged journalist whose marriage was falling to pieces would befriend a nonagenarian mourning the recent loss of his show more ninety-five year-old wife. Unless Ms. Vincent is lying through her teeth, it seems that it is.

If you adore stories of New York, this book will give you plenty to add to your mental library of love. Same goes for you foodies out there; every chapter is headed by a menu almost guaranteed to make you drool. The descriptions of the meals are so well-written that you'll get hungrier with every page. What I enjoyed most were the two main characters, and how they helped each other through their grief simply by having dinner together and talking about life, love, and of course loss. I did wish that the author had made the female main character something other than a journalist, because I never met a journalist I didn't want to slap in the back of the head (remember, I thought it was a novel) but now that I know it's actually her job, I won't smack her.

Readers should also prepare for some sadness, especially when Edward talks about the wife he lost. I also had some rough moments when Isabel provided certain details on her disintegrating marriage. It's tough for me to find death or divorce entertaining. That said, it was important for my perception of the characters to know those grim moments, as it magnified the hope and pleasure they gave to each other through their friendship. I think if only we could all know someone like Edward, or Isabel, life wouldn't suck quite so much at times. show less

I'm a sucker for a friendship story. So a premise such as the one about Dinner With Edward had me requesting a galley pretty fast. This is a sweet and touching memoir. Each chapter opens with a mouth-watering menu, and Edward's secret techniques that he shares with Isabel not only reflect on his meticulous nature, but reveal the care that people hold for things they value. He does not seem like one to compromise on his priorities. Isabel, whose job of being an investigative journalist is reflective of her personality, and is unhappily knee-deep in the middle of an unhappy marriage that is contributing to an unhappy life. These dinners with Edward become her weekly safe haven, her happy place. They are exquisite and elaborate, and show more reflective of Edward's personality- carefully planned and prepared, no skimping on details and no shortcuts. Through these dinners, a deep bond is formed. Edward slowly but gently gives her the valuable lesson of stepping back, slowing down, reexamining her life and figure out what gives her most meaning and happiness, nudges her out of her comfort zone, and gives her the courage to make some significant life changes. In turn, she is able to give him a sincere and solid friendship, companionship, an avid pupil soaking up his wisdom, and purpose.

While all of these things were beautiful to read, I found some things problematic. I like that the author acknowledges how sometimes the things Edward says are sexist, which she quickly attributes to the generation he belongs to. Which is fine, since this is a memoir, it's not as if it was an active character choice, but I did find myself getting annoyed at some of the things he said, which are stereotypically things people say about millennials, technology, etc. I definitely found it hard to reconcile those parts of Edward as a person. Also, there were some parts where Edward makes nonchalant statements about how she's not the only one he has these sort of dinners with, and I was struggling to understand his implication, or why that was even included. It's very clear that Isabel had become a project to Edward (again, she acknowledges this), a broken bird that needed fixing.

Did I find some of his decisions for her problematic? Hells yes. Is this from my doggedly-feminist perspective? Hells yes. Did this impact my overall impressions of the book? For sure.

Overall, a sweet story, and I wouldn't shy away from reading it. Obviously, the author is giving us a very poignant slice-of-life narrative, and I respect that. It clearly came to her in a time of great need, and it helped her take important action steps towards her own life. I will not discount any of this, especially with a memoir, because these are such real experiences. That definitely makes a difference for me. I think I would be more critical if it were a work of fiction.

Thanks to Algonquin Books and LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program for giving me an ARC in exchange for a review. show less

2.5 stars

Isabel, struggling over her crumbling marriage, and Edward, a man in his 90s who is grieving over the recent death of his wife, strike up a friendship over weekly dinners. The meals that are so lavishly described are a springboard for stories from both their lives. Edward's wisdom on love, marriage, and life is sprinkled throughout. Through this unlikely friendship, both begin to heal from their wounds.

The problem for me is I felt something was missing. It was sweet but there was no depth, and I didn't become attached to either character, especially Isabel. Although a short novel, I struggled to finish it. For a book that revolves around food so much, recipes would have been nice.

I do not recommend the audiobook. The narrator show more has an odd cadence to her speech and overacts the part. She reads it with a light chick-lit tone. show less

"The Story of a Remarkable Friendship" is the subtitle of this short and heartwarming book about the relationship between Edward and author Isabel, and it really was a remarkable friendship. Written by Isabel Vincent, investigative reporter for the New York Post, each chapter begins with a menu of the dinner that Edward has prepared for them that evening. The book chronicles the weekly meals and conversations that Edward and Isabel share, but more importantly it describes the support each gives to the other. Edward is a 93-year-old widower who mourns the recent loss of his wife Paula, and Isabel is a middle-aged newly divorced single mother. Both live in New York, a city where people are known for being aloof and detached. Yet through show more the weekly meals savored together, these two people discuss love and loss, grief and cooking skills. Edward's dinners and philosophy nourish Isabel as she heals from heartache. At the same time Isabel's friendship gives Edward hope and purpose - resulting in a sweetly charming, feel-good memoir.

I would have given this 5 stars if recipes had been included. show less

Dinner with Edward is definitely not a great book for Vegetarians with way too much emphasis on preparing meat,
though the Apricot soufflé and the scrambled egg recipes are memorable.

Also memorable is the bond that develops between Edward and Isobel at the times in their lives when comfort
and inspiration were needed for survival. Yet death, sadness, and depression often dominate the mood and plot.

I loved this story of friendship between a young 30-something woman, Isabel, and a 90-year-old man, Edward. He is the father of her good friend, Valerie, whose wife has just died. Valerie asks that Isabel visit her father because of his loneliness and grief, hoping a new friendship will keep him from being so depressed after his wife's death.
Edward is an amateur gourmet chef and loves to cook for friends, so Isabel becomes a frequent visitor. The two become close friends, sharing life lessons, histories, sorrows, and dreams. Isabel is going through a stormy time in her married life, and Edward helps her look at her life, as she tries to decide what she wants and what to do next.
It is a short book, very soothingly written with much talk show more about food: buying it, preparing it, and eating it. It is wonderful! Also, you can tell how they both love New York City and its vibrant hustle and bustle. It is just an amazing book recommended to me by a friend and which I am passing on to a friend. It is definitely a "friend" book :) show less